Converting a zon

So the vet has told me to try and convert Marley onto pellet based diet as he needs protein in his diet urgently. he suggested to read up on best methods of converting which i have read the sticky on this forum and decided to just go for the cold turkey method as marley is king at picking so mixing old and new diets will be pointless..

he didn't eat for the whole day yesterday and for the first time i see him take a drink of water.. I've tired soaking the pellets in orange juice.. I've tried mashing them up with pomegranate and also made a awesome looking seed/pellet/apple mix which i thought would do the trick but nothing

its hard due to him making a lot of noise and making us feel sorry for him but i won't give in like i usually do! its for his own health benefit!

Patience, patience, and some more patience, please.

Since Marley was fed a rather 'unhealthy' diet all his life, it will probably take you a while to convert him. Please don't go cold turkey. It would be a good idea to invest in a gram scale, so you can keep track of his weight during the process. A bird who doesn't eat anything cannot sustain itself for long.

Wendy is right, it's going to take some time to convert him. What was he eating before?

Typically, you start off giving them about 80% old food, 20% new food all mixed in and gradually up the new food percentage and lower the old food. That way they won't starve because many quite literally do not recognize anything but the diet they've been used to as food. The mix you have there looks like a really healthy mix, and should be the end goal. I've seen you post that Marley likes grapes a whole lot, why not try cutting a grape in half then sticking it in the food so he has to "dig" it out? Some of the new food is bound to stick to it, and he may decide it tastes pretty good If not, keep trying.

I know my JoJo isn't picky, but when I am introducing a new food, I don't put it in his cage. I put it in his play areas where we give treats. In my mind(birdbrain?) I am associating play/treats with the new food. It is working very well for me. Seems like he jumps into trying it and first reaction is 'crap' and throws it on the floor, I ignore this. Then by the third time out playing, he is acting like it has always been a favorite! He was only on seeds when I got him too.

My zons like beans, maybe try to soak some overnight and cook it for him. It's a good source of protein.
Also, did you try to give him some scrambled eggs? My birds go crazy when I give them some. They are so crazy about scrambled eggs that I grind pellets into the eggs, and my zons still just love it...... . Don't give him scrambled eggs more than 3 times a week and in small portions, otherwise it's too much protein....

Question for those that know. By some of the Vet's diet recommendations, looks like he is wanting more calcium in Marley's diet. For my bearded dragons, I use a calcium dust on their food, it is phosphorus free and has D3. Would this be of any benefit for Marley?

Flboy said:

Question for those that know. By some of the Vet's diet recommendations, looks like he is wanting more calcium in Marley's diet. For my bearded dragons, I use a calcium dust on their food, it is phosphorus free and has D3. Would this be of any benefit for Marley?

Click to expand...

A cuttlebone or mineral block for birds would also be a good source of calcium Crushed eggshells are good too.

We took Buddy ( GCA), in March 2014. I haven't fed him seed since bringing him in. He loves to eat with us. This means giving bird healthy food when we sit down for dinner. We could be eating nachos or Apple pie but we make a show of putting food in his bowl when we sit down for dinner. So at dinner he gets some kind of fruit or/and veg while we eat dinner that could be a burger, stir fry, his is always healthy. He's eating while we are eating so he's happy.

Yup, this is how we do it too, make a big song and dance about the 'yummy human food' (aka healthy bird food or pellets) that we're putting in his bowl as we sit down to eat our breakfast, lunch, and dinner. He feels like hes part of the flock meal so hes happy.

hi guys thanks for your replies he is back on the apple and grapes but I've been dipping them in a bit of honey to make the pellets stick.. is this ok because he has been eating them and managed to get him to eat a good 3 pellets today

i will deco try scrambles egg and il save the shells thanks for the tips!

and yes he eats at our food times already

Kiwibird said:

Flboy said:

Question for those that know. By some of the Vet's diet recommendations, looks like he is wanting more calcium in Marley's diet. For my bearded dragons, I use a calcium dust on their food, it is phosphorus free and has D3. Would this be of any benefit for Marley?

Click to expand...

A cuttlebone or mineral block for birds would also be a good source of calcium Crushed eggshells are good too.

Click to expand...

Your right about that.....I have chickens so my birds get eggs twice a week.

What's really good, hard boiled eggs......Leave a bit of egg white in the shell, take out the yolk, or most of it, as it is a bit too much cholesterol for them. They love pick the egg whites and bite off tiny bits of shell as they do it...good foraging tool as well. Good for them...

I also make scambled egg, put chive greens, kale, bit of seed, and tiny bit of flax seed and few drops of fish oil, and a sprinkle of poppy seeds....yummy yum and good calcium diet....they scoff it down.
Helps with a good feather coat and oil glands.

JerseyWendy said:

Patience, patience, and some more patience, please.

Since Marley was fed a rather 'unhealthy' diet all his life, it will probably take you a while to convert him. Please don't go cold turkey. It would be a good idea to invest in a gram scale, so you can keep track of his weight during the process. A bird who doesn't eat anything cannot sustain itself for long.

Click to expand...

There is always yummy alternatives....my Zons hate pellets. Soooooooo,
I tend to buy all kinds of alternatives that prove to be yummy, and everyone is happy little camper.

For example, I will get smelt, cleaned and ready....smelt has tiny bones (backbone) which is crunchy and provides calcium as well as protein and necessary oils for their body and oil glands for feathers. My birds go mental over fish, even sardines, baked cod, salmon. They get it once a week.
You never seen happier birds after they are done with that.

I would not add honey, sorry.....too much sugar .... apples and grapes have too much sugar already. Grapes in particular are recommended in very small portions because of sugar. I give my DYHA only one or two a week. My YSA doesn't like them.
Do not add salt to the eggs if you scramble them. You actually could grind shells with the eggs for extra calcium.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.